AmaZulu Director Mfundo Zungu, the older son of the club’s president Sandile Zungu, has discussed rumours linking Usuthu with Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali.
Zungu, who is also a board member of Usuthu, said he enjoyed watching Jali when he was still at Orlando Pirates – at a time when he was at still high school while being a fan of the club just like his father.
Jali, 32, is out of the contract with Sundowns at the end of the season and Rulani Mokwena confirmed he would like to keep the midfielder as part of his squad.
But it seems talks are going back and forth between Sundowns and Jali’s camp, with his agent Mike Makaab recently stating that it’s “decision time” for the club.
By FIFA law, Jali is within his right to sign a pre-contract with a club of his choice since he is left with less than six months on his deal.
“You never know,” Zungu said with a smile on Thursday.
“But as I said, I’m not involved with the first team and I would be lying to even have a remote idea. But Andile is a great player, a great guy.
“I used to be an Orlando Pirates supporter when he was playing for Pirates and he’s one of my favourite players.
“I still think he’s got a lot to give at the club level, a lot of guys have been calling for him to come back to the national team.
“I think he would be a great addition to the first team, but I would be lying if I said there is an interest from the club – I’m the wrong person to answer.”
It was Mfundo Zungu’s first appearance in front of the media, when he spoke at length about his desire to see AmaZulu take a strong foothold when it comes to development on Thursday.
The club appointed former Bafana Bafana internationals Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Mbulelo Mabizela to be the coaches of the development, as previously revealed by iDiski Times.
They also appointed former Orlando Pirates midfielder Andile Cele, whilst Manqoba Ngwenya is understood to have rejected the Usuthu offer as it was too little for him since he’s from the other province – Gauteng.
AmaZulu also appointed a raft of people to strengthen the club’s development, with Mfundo Zungu revealing his father’s plans for 2032.
“I’m behind the scenes. I actually work for the family business,” said Zungu.
“I came back to the family business in October, the private equity side. I have been the Executive Director of AmaZulu for two years now. I had to take on the youth development project sometime last year.
“Everyone wants to be involved with the first team because that is where the limelight is, the cameras are, glamour is and most of the attention and no one wants to do the actual hard work.”
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
